Театр
Chapter 4
HewasneitherpepperynortyrannicalasJulia,fromherknowledgeofthestage,expectedacoloneltobe.Shecouldnotimaginehimshoutingoutwordsofcommandinthatcourteous,rathercoldvoice.Hehadinpointoffactretiredwithhonoraryrankafteranentirelyundistinguishedcareer,andformanyyearshadbeencontenttoworkinhisgardenandplaybridgeathisclub.HereadTheTimes,wenttochurchonSundayandaccompaniedhiswifetotea-parties.Mrs.Gosselynwasatall,stoutish,elderlywoman,muchtallerthanherhusband,whogaveyoutheimpressionthatshewasalwaystryingtodiminishherheight.Shehadtheremainsofgoodlooks,sothatyousaidtoyourselfthatwhenyoungshemusthavebeenbeautiful.Sheworeherhairpartedinthemiddlewithabunonthenapeofherneck.Herclassicfeaturesandhersizemadeheratfirstmeetingsomewhatimposing,butJuliaquicklydiscoveredthatshewasveryshy.Hermovementswerestiffandawkward.Shewasdressedfussily,withasortofold-fashionedrichnesswhichdidnotsuither.Julia,whowasentirelywithoutself-consciousness,foundtheelderwoman’sdeprecatingattituderathertouching.Shehadneverknownanactresstospeaktoanddidnotquiteknowhowtodealwiththepredicamentinwhichshenowfoundherself.Thehousewasnotatallgrand,asmalldetachedstucco*houseinagardenwithalaurelhedge,andsincetheGosselynshadbeenforsomeyearsinIndiathereweregreattraysofbrasswareandbrassbowls,piecesofIndianembroideryandhighly-carvedIndiantables.
